Tympan-clamp.



N. A. ANDERSON. v TYMPAN CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 19!}.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919..

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

N. A. ANDERSON. TYMPAN CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, I915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

NELS A. ANDERSON, OF WARREN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE HARRIS AIJ'TOMATICPRESS FEQ.

COMPANY, OF NILES, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TY MPAN -CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedFeb. 25, 1919.

Application filed April 21, 1915. Serial No. 22,890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, NnLs A. AXDERsoX, of IVarren, in the county ofTrumbull and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Tympan- Clamps; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

The primary object of this invention is to enable a draw-sheet or tympanto be self alining and self locking as a reel-rod is rotated to makesuch sheet or tympan taut .on a printing element.

A further object is to render unnecessary the use of clamps forattaching a blanket or draw-sheet to its adjusting reel rod.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view ofa press cylinder showing my improved reel rod. Fig. 2 is a front view ofthe press cylinder. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the end of thesheet in initial engagement with the reel-rod before the latter isrotated. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the reel rod in the positionit occupies as it completes its rotation. Figs. 5 and 6 show slightmodifications.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates an impression-cylinder of aprinting press which is shown by way of illustration, since my presentimprovement may be employed 1n connection with a reciprocating bed orother printing element of a printing press. 2 is a reel rod which I haveshown as mounted in a cut-out portion of the cylinder and by which oneend of the tympan or draw-sheet 3 is held and drawn taut, the sheet atits other end being secured to the cylinder by any suitable means, suchas a clamping plate 3. According tomy present invention the reel-rod isformed with a slot extending longitudinally thereof and parallel to itsazgis and through which slot the draw sheet, after being wrapped aroundthe press cylinder, is projected, whereupon by turning the reel-rod thesheet may be properly alined on the cylinder and auto- According to theconstruction shown in Figs. 1 to at, the slot is formed by means of athin metal strip l secured at its bent ends to a face of the reel rod,the space between the latter and the strip constituting a slot. The reelrod is shown as formed with a plurality of flat faces, the number beingimmaterial, that is to say, the reel rod in cross section may have sixsides, more or less, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or it may be square incross section as shown in Fig. 5 or substantially cylindrical, withasingle flat side, as shown in Fig. 6. The reel rod is provided vwiththe customary ratchet 5 with which a holding pawl 6 is designed toengage.

In practice, the draw-sheet after being secured at one end to thecylinder is wrapped around the latter, and the projecting end is thenpassed through the slot in the reel rod, being simply pulled straightthrough by hand until it is snug around the cylinder. The operator thenreleases his holdon the end of the sheet and turns the reel rod. Byreason of the slight friction of the walls of the slot the sheet will bekept flat and straight until the first revolution of the reel rod isnearly completed, whereupon the end of the sheet is doubled back (seeFig. 4) by contact with the upper or stretched portion which immediatelybegins to tighten under the locking strain. Hence by means of myinvention the sheet is rendered self alinin and self locking, being heldto the rec rod without the use of clamps as heretofore required.

It will be understood that I do not confine myself to the means shownand described for carrying outv my invention. While the slot may, asstated, be formed in the reel rod, yet I prefer to provide such slot bythe spaced metallic strip, and in this connection it should be noted,that, if

desired, one end of the strip may be detachablyheld to the reel rod soas to permit it to be raised in inserting the end of the draw sheetbetween the reel rod and the strip.

The advantages of my invention will be readily appreciated by thoseskilled in the art, and it will be seen that by means thereof.

rod and automaticallv locked to the latter as .having a longitudinalrecess, a clamping plate adapted to bind one end of a draw sheet, and atension reel located in said recess, said reel having a spaced apartelement, a-slot being formed between said element and said reel, andthrough which slot the free end of a draw sheet may be loosely passed,such end being automatically turned back upon itself and locked to thereel as the latter is rotated.

2. In a printing press impression cylinder plate adapted to bind one endof a draw sheet, and a tension reel located in said recess and havingone or a pluralit of flat sides and a strip paralleling the rec to forma slot through which the opposite end of a draw sheet is adapted to beloosely passed to permit automatic adjustment of the sheet as such reelis initially rotated, the sheet bein automatically caused to bindagainst said strip and on said reel as the latter is rotated.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

NELS A.ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

A. D. Loor, R. A. BRnEzE.

